Warmer than Montana - Antarctica

I feel like there was a standard response whenever I told family and friends I was headed to Antarctica.  "Oh wow" and "but why there?"

It's a fair question. Traveling to the end of the world isn't for everyone.  Most people aren't sure of the logistics on how to get there, what you do when you're there or where you stay.  In all fairness, I was one of those people just a few years ago.  But trust me, it's not hard to jump on the bandwagon and I will do my part to recommend this trip of a lifetime to any and everyone that asks.

My first interest with this icy wonderland was purely based on mystery. It felt like a challenge to be one of the few people that experience its wonder.  My second interest came with the reality that my children and grandchildren have a strong chance of never seeing this wonder. More than a standard trip, the expeditions that operate to Antarctica have a strong focus on science, and widespread science at that. Whether it's climate, glaciers, birds, mammals or more, there are hundreds of professionals focusing on learning as much as possible about the world around us and the unknown of Antarctica.

The travel is long, the cost is high, and with a trip like this there are quite actually no guarantees. I am so extremely grateful for this opportunity and for the amazing experience I had. Do yourself a favor and book your turn next!

 

With an exciting cruise adventure awaiting you, sometimes it’s hard to focus on your time before in Ushuaia. While you must arrive the day before your cruise embarkation to ensure you can make the boat on time, I highly recommend at least two nights in Ushuaia.

Where the sea meets the mountainous sky, Ushuaia is a unique small town. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed walking around and admiring the local shops and restaurants. With its size and being the main port for these cruises, it was no surprise the focus on tourism with a Hard Rock Cafe and adventure gear stores.
 

March is not a very common time to travel to Antarctica.  The weather, while unpredictable all year round, tends to get colder and the daylight quickly shortens as the continent starts to plunge into winter.  Every season, no matter the destination, has its own draws as well as its downfalls. We were lucky to not only travel in this more quiet travel month, but on a cruise that was the Marine Mammal themed expedition. 

As winter was approaching, this often meant the whales of the Antarctic are most visible and active, and boy did they put on a show for us! I’ve never been much of a wildlife or animal lover, aside from my dogs and cats. However, it’s hard not to be fascinated by all of the animals you get to see and more importantly learn with a team of expedition guides and scientists on board that are so patient about the creatures.

A moment I will never forget came over the intercom while crossing the Drake Passage. Killer whales had been spotted off the ship bow. The rush to grab jackets, binoculars and more and race to the outside decks was audible throughout the ship. These orcas put on a show! We spent at least an hour watching pod after pod approach the ship, swim next to us, under the ship and in front of us. The scientists on board argued afterwards if we saw 103 or 105 in total.

Day 2 of our cruise was not even in Antarctica yet, and we received a highlight of the trip. Officially, we saw fur seals, leopard seals, weddell seals, crabeater seals, killer whales, minke whales, fin whales, humpback whales, gentoo penguins, adelie penguins and so many more! Even if wildlife isn’t a strong focus of your trip planning, take a look at what each time of year is known for and what sounds the most appealing to you. And if you love whales, aim for that March time frame.

I feel lucky enough to say that I’ve traveled a lot. I have seen Notre Dame, visited the Coliseum, had Guinness in Dublin and pet a llama in Peru. However, the more I look back on my travels and the more I travel now, I realize it is the people in these places that make the most memories. The people I travel with, or the people I meet along the way, help shape these adventures in ways that can last a lifetime.The first time I saw the Palio horse race in Sienna, I can struggle to remember who won. I vividly remember my group of girls hanging out with some bottles of wine talking and napping and getting excited for this cultural event.

People who have a passion for travel already have a great way to connect. That love or passion that brought you somewhere means you are just like the person next to you. I felt this was almost amplified in Antarctica. For such a unique destination, you have to feel a certain desire for adventure, nature, wildlife and our planet to want to go. Connecting with people from around the world with this shared interest, just makes it more fun.

Take the time to talk to those around you, no matter how scary that may seem. Trapped on a steel boat for a week can get pretty boring and lonely otherwise. It’s also so much easier to make fast friends with so many people when traveling via cruise. Whether you join a night of charades (my krill impression helped us win the game) or pick up a board game and play while you’re sailing (we will never know who wins that Monopoly game) give it a shot. I am so grateful for all the amazing people I met on the cruise from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, England and more.

A fun additional activity that many cruises are now offering is kayaking. With little experience, yet fairly active, I was a little nervous how sea kayaking would be compared to the lakes I had previously been on.  Luckily we had several meetings about the program, what to expect, how to use the equipment, and three amazing guides with us at all times. Oh and I made Meg use a double one with me!

Thank goodness these guides have the patience of saints as they walked us through the equipment used, how things should work and what to expect.  Of course, what they couldn't outline was how often we could get on the water and the experience we would have. I had once again treated this as a challenge that while some people are lucky enough to visit Antarctica even fewer get to kayak. Now I can safely say I've kayaked among seals, penguins and whales!

Kayaking is not for everyone! Our experience was nothing like the other travelers on board and both and positives and negatives.  While I swam with the penguins and a leopard seal, they saw some tremendous humpback whales. Personally, the feeling of being in/on the water and seeing these animals up close was beyond words. Maybe next time, I'll be comfortable in my own kayak ;)

Antarctica is a once in a lifetime, unique and amazing travel opportunity.  Yet, most people forget that any destination can hold that effect. I feel like Argentina is often overlooked in this regard, especially for those interested in the last continent.  There are any number of excuses to not include Argentina in your itinerary; time, money, lack of interest, etc. But think again!

Even if you don’t have the time or money to do a full tour of Argentina, take advantage of every place you have to stop there in conjunction with your cruise. Almost any single international connection will bring you through the capital of Buenos Aires. I'm glad Meg and I stopped to have a day and tour the city. I found myself so much more fascinated than I expected to be and enjoyed so much of the gastronomy of the city I probably gained five pounds this day alone. Some of our favorite dishes we had were empanadas, various meats (especially steak), some local beers and gelato (Rapanui in Buenos Aires is terrific)! 

  

Not only did Buenos Aires seem to have more to offer, (I'm still mad I didn't put Meg in some tango shoes), hearing more about the rest of the country got me ready to plan the next trip before I even left.